Improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of peat bricks



2 sheets-sheen 1. F. HACK.

Apparatus for the Manufacture of Peat-Bricks. No. 204,816. Patented June11, I878.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.. I F. HACK.

Apparatus for Manufacture of Peat-Bricks No. 204,816. Patented,,lune1l;187 8.

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FRIEDRICH thick, or HAMBURG, GERMANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FUR THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT BRICKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,816, dated June 11,1878; application filed May 14, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH HACK, of Hamburg, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Peat intoBricks or Blocks, of which the following is a description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

This invention has for its object the manufacture of peat into condensedmasses or bricks by a dry and continuous process, without anypreliminary preparation of said material before introducing it to theapparatus for converting it into brick; and relates to appara tus fortreating the peat, in which said material-is bolted by a revolving drum,then passed over one or more drying-tables, and subsequently conductedto the devices by which it is pressed into form.

The invention consists in a certain combination of a bolting or siftingdrum, a right and left hand threaded screw distributer arranged in areceiver below said drum, one or more drying-tables below saiddistributor, an endless chain or chains of pend-. ent scrapers or rakesfor passing the bolted peat over said table or tables, and a conveyerfor conducting said material to the press which gives it form orsolidity. By this combination the bolted peat is evenly distributed overthe drying-tables, and is kept loose or free thereon by the pendentrakes or scrapers without any liability to jam or pack, thusfacilita-ting the drying of the peat.

The invention also consists in a novel construction of the press forsolidifying the peat into detached masses or bricks, whereby a self-adjustin g pressure on the peat is obtained, and the degree of pressure maybe regulated at will.

Figure 1 represents a partly-sectional side elevation of a peatseparating, drying, and distributing apparatus with attached conveyerfor conducting the sifted and dried peat to the press. Fig. 2 is a planof the same, and Fig. 3 isa front or end view thereof. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of a press used to form the peat into brick. Fig. 5 is a planof the same, and Fig. 6 is an end view thereof.

Referring, in the first instance, to Figs. 1, 2,

- and 3 of the drawing, A is a hopper, into which the peat, in its greenstate, is fed by an elevator or otherwise, and by which it is conductedinto the upper end of a rotating reticulated cylinder or drum sieve, B,arranged in a transverse direction to and above the drying table ortables, and with its longitudinal axis at an inclination to the horizon.The lower end of said sieve is left open to provide for the escape by aspout, b, of lumps or pieces of peat too large to pass through themeshes of the sieve, while the finer portions or particles of the peatwhich are thrown out by the sieve are collected within a receiver, 0.Arranged within said receiver below the drum-sieve B is a rotatingscrew-distributer, D, having right and.- left hand threads on it for thepurpose of uniformly distributing the workable peat over the bottom ofthe receiver (J, and so that it will be evenly delivered through one ormore apertures, c, therein onto the upper surface of a hollowdrying-table, E. This drying-table may be of sheet-iron, and maybeheated by the circulation of steam within it, or in any other suitablemanner.

G G are endless chains on opposite sides of the table E, and arranged topass above and below it, and over an under hollow dryingtable, F, whichis also heated by steam or otherwise. These chains, which pass arounddrums orwheels at opposite ends of the tables, and have a continuousmotion imparted to them by the wheels at one end, are provided with aseries of peat rakes or scrapers, H, extending in detached sectionscrosswise over the tables, and which may be formed of plain or serratedplates and arms pendent on crossbars f, connecting the two chains.

These devices H, by the motion of the chains carrying them, take hold ofthe peat as it is distributed from the receiver 0 onto one end of thetable E and drag it over said table, turning it over and over, to moreeffectually expose it to the drying action of the table, and ultimatelydeliver it over the rear end of said table onto the under drying-tableF, over which it is carried or dragged in a reverse direction by thedevices H, and turned over and over as before to effect a still furtherdrying of it. The peat thus dried is delivered, by the action of thedevices H over the back end of the table F, into a lower receiver orhopper, I, from whence it is discharged by a screw-conveyer, J, to apassage, spout, or duct, f, that conveys it to the press.

The press, which solidifies the dried peat and forms it into bricks, isor maybe constructed as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings, andin which A is acast-iron foundation plate, on or near one end of whichis secured a double-checked frame, B B, constructed to form in betweenthe checks the lower portion of a mold, O. Arranged between the cheeksof this lower mold-frame, and pivoted thereto at or near their innerendby a joint-pin, g, is a jaw-piece, D, which is constructed to form, bymeans of a steel facing'piece, h, the upper portion of the mold C. Theshape of the mold in its cross-section is shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings.

The duct f, which conveys the dried peatto the press, is arranged todeliver said material into the mold at or through the inner end of thelatter, beneath its jointed attachment to the lower mold-frame, by thepin g, and immediately in front of a plunger, E, each time the lattercompletes its back stroke.

G is a recessed or cam-shaped shaft, having its hearings in the front orouter end of the double-checked or lower mold-frame B B, and arranged tobear down upon a projection on the upper surface of the front or outerend portion of the jaw-piece D, subject to any desired given weight orpressure by a weighted lever, B, applied to either or both ends of thecam or cam-shaped shaft G, and. preferably having its weight 8adjustable along it to vary the amount of pressure of the jaw-piece D onthe peat in the mold G.

The plunger E is reciprocated horizontally into and out of the moldthrough the inner or back end of the latter, and beneath or through thelower end of the duct f by meausof a lever, K, which may be actuated byany suitable motor, and which is connected with the plunger through abar and sliding cross-head, L, working in suitable guides. The forwardaction of the plunger presses a sufl icient quantity of peat into themold to form abrick, the thickness of which will depend upon the lengthof the plunger-stroke, the closing of the jaw-piece D, as controlled bythe lever H, giving the necessary resistance to the plunger andproviding for a self-adj usting action of the pressure while the pressis at work.

I claim-- V 1. The combination of the bolting or sift: ing drum B, thereceiver 0 below said drum, the right and left hand threadedscrewdistributer D within said receiver, one or more drying-tables, E E,the endless travelingchain or chains G, the rakes or scrapers H, carriedby said chain or chains, the receiver or 110pper I, and thescrew-conveyer J, for conducting the dried peat to the pressing devices,substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the duct or passage f, of the reciprocatingplunger E, the mold O, the pivoted jaw-piece D, forming the movableportion of said mold, and the weighted lever H, essentially as and forthe purposes described.

FRIEDRICH HACK. Witnesses:

F. ENGEL, E. Orrnn'r.

